Faucet attachment



Aug. 14, 1945. H R KLElN 2,382,066

FAUCET ATTACHMENT Filed Oct. 13, 1944 Patented Aug-14, `1945;

UNITEDY STATES PATENT OFFICE assggoes FAUCET ATTACHMENT Harry R. Klein, Chicago, Ill. Application October I3, 1944, Serial No. 558,495

's claims.

This inventionl relates to a faucet attachment, and more particularly to a faucet attachment adapted to provide selectively a spray or a full stream of water.

An object of the invention is to provide asimple, durable, and eilicient faucet attachment to which water may be selectively discharged in' the form of a spray or in the form of a full stream. Another object is to provide in a faucet attachment, a guide channel for the discharge from the attachment of a full stream of water and which is adapted to permit the dischargeof the water in the form of a spray upon the operation of a valve. Still another object is to provide a resilient guide channel in a faucet attachment through which alfull stream of water may be discharged and which is adapted to be distorted by I water pressure to permit the flow of water -in the form of a stream upon the operation of a valve. A further object is to provide in a faucet attachment single means for forming a portion of the guide channel when a full stream of water is being discharged and provide a limiting stop for the valve when the valve in the attachment is moved to shut off the full stream of water and `provide for a spray discharge. Still another object is to provide in a faucet attachment a resilient guide and' a rigid guide arranged to cooperate in providing a guide channel for the flow of a full stream of water from the attachment, with the rigid portion being adapted to serve as a limiting stop member for a valve which is used to shut off the full flow of water and change the same to a spray discharge.

Other features and advantages will appear from the following specification and drawing, in which- Y Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device in inverted position showing the valve closure disk in closed.

position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the valve closure disk in open position; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of the attachment with the valve closure disk in closed position-:'Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the valve closure disk'in open position; and Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the spray plate unit.

In the embodiment of the inventionv shown herein, a substantially cylindrical casing IQ, which is, preferably of a resilient material such as rubber, is equipped with a plurality of inwardly-extending annular flanges II, I2, I3 and I4 forming means for the gripping of a faucet. Each of the flanges extends downwardly as well as inwardly, the angle of inclination being substantially the same in each case...

AThe flange II is preferably slightly longer than the other flanges and therefore extends radially inwardly farther than the other flanges.

This ange I I is the first flange to engage a faucet when the attachment is placed thereon. The flanges I2 and I3, disposed immediately below the flange I I, also engage the faucet. As shown, the flanges I2 and I 3 may be of a thickness slightlly less than that of the ange II. By reason of the downward inclination of the anges II, I2 and I3, the casing I0 may be readily forced upwardly over the lower end of the faucet which when in position is removed only by the application of considerable downward pressure. Ac-

cordingly, the unit may be firmly and securely attached to the faucet and is not forced off by the downward pressure of the water passin through the attachment.

To the lower end of the casing I2 is attached a depending outwardly-flared skirt I5, which is preferably integral with the casing I0 as shown.

The unit formed by the casing I0 and the skirt I5 is equipped with an inwardly-extending portion I6, which in turn supports a depending guide II,` which is also of a resilient material. The depending guide is substantially cylindrical in shape as shown.

At the lower portion df the inner surface ofthe casing I0 is an annular groove I8 which receives a filter screen I9, the-screen I9 being inserted in position by stretching of the resilient casing. y

The skirt I5 is equipped at its lower end with an inwardly-extending Bange 20 which is adapted to receive a support and spray plate unit 2i. A series of small integral lugs 22 spaced about the periphery of the inner surface of the skirt I5 and immediately above the flange 20 are adapted to engage the upper surface of the spray plate unit while the flange 2U supports and engages the lower portion thereof. Preferably, the diameter of the spray plate unit is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the lower portion of the skirt I5 so that the spray plate y unit may be placed in position only by stretch- -sur'face of the spray plate unit 2| The spray plate unit, as shown-particularly in Fig. 5, includes a substantially circular ilange' 24 provided with a relatively large central outlet aperture 25 and a plurality of small spray apertures 26. A pivot 21 extends throughthe plate 24 and carries at its lower end an operating handle 28, while to its upper end is attached an arm perform the dual function of completing the guide channel passage for the water when the disk is in open position, as'seen in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, and to provide at the same time a limiting stop member for the disk 30 when the disk is shifted to closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this f latter position, as seen from. the dottedlines in 29 carrying the valve closure disk 30. To the y valve closure disk is attached an annular member 3| which isssupported on the upper surface of the plate 24 and extends laterally from the disk 30. The disk 30 is of a.l size slightly larger than the outlet aperture 25 so that when the disk is in position over the outlet aperture, the

ing through the unit.

Preferably, the closure disk 35 and arm 29 are provided with a large number of small spray apertures so that when the disk is in closed position a spray of water may issue from -the entire If desired, the portion of the spray plate 24 which is immediately adjacent to the arm 23 when the disk 30 Fig; 1, the edge of the member 3| opposite the edge which is secured to the disk 30 engages the side of the skirt |5 when the disk reaches closed position. In this manner, the handle may be operated until the annular member 3| engages the skirt l5, at which .point the disk 30 will be in position over the voutlet aperture 25.

Although the invention has been described in connection with certain specific embodiments, it

- will be apparent that modifications and changes is in vclosed position may be equipped with a The filter I9 is held in position by the groove,

I8 and the support I6. When the disk 30 is in open position, asseen in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, water may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of therinvention.

I claim:

1. A faucet attachment comprising a casing equipped with means for gripping a faucet with a water passage therethrough, a depending annular skirt on said casing, a spray plate unit carried by said skirt substantially below said casing and including a plate provided with a large outlet aperture and a plurality of small spray -apertures therein and means for selectively openthrough the casing, guide and outlet aperture,

iiows downwardly from the faucet through the I cylinder l0, through the resilient guide I1, through the rigid guide 3|, and through the central outlet aperture 25 in the spray plate 24. With the unit in this position, the guide I1 'and the guide 3| provide a substantially continuous guide channel between the cylinder I0 and the plate 2H. It will be noted that the resilient guide |1 is in this position in contact with the upper surface of the annular member 3|. The water is discharged from the unit in a'full stream flowing through the central outlet aperture 25.

When it is desired to discharge the water in the form of a spray, the handle 28 is moved to shift the disk 30 to closed position seen in Figs. 1 and 2. When the disk is in this position, water passing downwardly through the cylinder .I0 and guide I1 is discharged directly on the disk 30. The resistance of the disk 30 to the flow of water therethrough causes a substantial pressure to be generated within the guide channel |1, and

and when the outlet aperture in the plate is closed water pressure Within `the resilient guide causes the lower edge thereof to be distorted. outwardly to permit water to flow past the same and through the spray apertures in said plate. 2. A faucet attachment comprising a casing equipped with means for gripping a faucet vand with a substantially cylindrical water passage therethrough, a depending outwardly-flared annular skirt on said casing, a spray plate unit carthe resilient guide channel Il is stretched outwardly at vits lower end to the position shown in Fig, 3. Im this position, the water vflowing through the guide channel I1 flows outwardly from the lower end of the channel, across the surface of the spray, plate lunit 2|.and is discharged through the various spray vapertures 25. It has been found that when the lower end of the guide channel I1 is, distorted outwardly in this manner, the water flows substantially uniformly through the various spray apertures, in the surface of the spray plate unit 2|.

The annular member 3| is arranged so as to ried by said skirt substantially below said casing and including a plate with a large outlet aperture and a plurality of small spray apertures therein and means lfor selectively opening and closing said outlet aperture, a depending annular resilient guide extending downwardly from said casing and Within said skirt into a position of contact with the upper surface of said spray plate unit, the opening in said `guide being in communication and substantial alignment with the water passage in said casing and with the outlet aperture in said spray plate whereby when the outlet aperture is open water may flow through the casing, guide and outlet aperture, and when the outlet aperture in the plate is closed water pressure within the resilient .guide causes the 'lower edge thereof to be distorted outwardly to permit water to flow past the same and through the spray apertures in the plate.l

3. A faucet attachment comprising a resilient casing equipped with resilient means for grip'.- ping a faucet and with a .substantially cylindrical water passage therethrough, a depending outwardly-flared resilient annular rskirt on said casing, a spray plate unit carried by said skirt substantially below said casing and including a plate provided with a central large outlet aperture and a plurality of small spray apertures therein, with a closure disk for selectively opening and closing said outletvaperture, said disk being supported for movement on the upper surface of said plate, and with an annular member secured to said disk and extending laterally therefrom, said member being provided with la central opening of substantiallyv the same size as said outlet aperture and being movable on the upper surface of said plate from open position in which the member extends about said aperture to closed position in which the member engages the inner surface of the side wall of said skirt to limit the movement of the closure disk to which the member is attached, a. depending annular resilient guide extending downwardly from said casing and within said skirt into a position of contact with said spray plate unit, the opening in said guide being in substantial alignment and communication with the water passage in said casing and with the outlet aperture of said spray plate whereby when the outlet aperture is open water may flow through said easing, guide and outlet aperture, and when the outlet aperture in the plate is closed Water pressure within the otally mounted for movement on the surface between closed position wherein the disk extends f over and closes a central aperture in the plate and 4ropen position in which the disk is disposed to one side of said aperture, and an annular member having an opening approximately of the same dimensions as the aperture in said'plate, said member being carriedby said disk and extending laterally therefrom on the surface of said plate, Y

spray plate and extends laterally from the disk,

resilient guide causes the lower edge thereof to the member being movable from open position of the disk wherein the member forms a guide channel about the aperture in the plate to closed position of the disk wherein the member forms a stop for limiting the movement of the disk.

' 6. A faucet attachment as set forth in claim 3 wherein said resilient lskirt is equipped with an annular groove on the inner surface thereof for receiving the periphery of the spray' plate, the

internal dimensions of the groove being slightly smaller'than the external dimensions of the spray plate whereby` the resilient skirt must be stretched to receive the spray plate.' 

